Elide ran panting through the village, cloak flying in the wind. The innkeeper would be out looking for her soon and she wanted to get as far ahead as she could. All the money Manon had given her had run out, but she was indebted to the innkeeper. She knew what happened to young women in debt. Anyways, Terrasen was calling her name. "Elide, Elide" she heard it calling in her dreams. It was time for her journey to continue. Thank the gods, her leg had improved and she was able to put almost her full weight on it.
"That's her", the innkeeper barked behind her to two guards. They began to run towards her. "Shit", Elide hissed. The villagers walking down the street began to stare, not brave enough to join the hunt. As she ran, she considered her options. She knew roughly where she was; The village would no longer be a safe place for her to stay if everyone had been alerted of her presence. The other option: to run into the forest. Elide knew she really only had one option, so she gave a quick burst of speed and plunged into the forest once more.
Elide ran for a solid hour before pausing to take a breath behind a big oak tree. She tried to subdue her heavy breathing so she could listen out for pursuers, but it seemed there were none. "I wonder why...", she mused. "Maybe because this part of Oakwald is said to be haunted by skinwalkers", a voice said smoothly. Elide jumped, rendered speechless for a moment. She slowly began to step backwards, looking all over for the lovely, silky voice. "Who... who are you", she called out, "I have weapons". It came out feebly though; even she could hear the fear in her voice.
Suddenly, a handsome faced, black-haired young man jumped down from a tree and landed squarely on his feet. Her hand flicked to the knife in her belt and she pointed it in the stance Manon had shown her. The man rose slowly, eyes searching her for... something. Neither of them moved for a good few seconds, sizing each other up. The man slowly raised his hands in surrender. "I'm not going to hurt you", he said gently,"I just wanted to make sure you weren't someone I was hoping to avoid". Elide nodded, slowly placing the knife back in her belt. "Who are you", she asked, still cautious. The man held out his hand, "My name is Nox Owen".